Central Coast Mariners coach Graham Arnold says his side was flattered by the 2-0 scoreline against Western Sydney Wanderers after they failed to capitalise against 10 men.

A security guard gets rid of a flare thrown on to the pitch after Wanderers fans reacted badly when a penalty was not awarded. Supporters also launched water bottles on to the ground. Picture: Mark Evans Source: The Daily Telegraph

THE Wanderers fans are magnificent, but they need to learn the difficult art of how to lose well.

For 89 minutes they were cacophonous, unrelenting in the intensity of their support.

They do not stop singing, great swaths of the Red and Black Bloc unfurling anthems for 90 minutes.

It has to lift their heroes, the players visibly responding at key moments of the game.

It creates one of the best atmospheres you could at a football match, but in their frustration as the game slipped away, a handful of idiots produced the moments that are fodder for those who would denigrate the game.

Denied a penalty when Mark Bridge tangled with Trent Sainsbury in the final moments - a decision that on balance the referee got right - one fool produced a flare and too many others launched water bottles towards the goal of Mariners goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.

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